Latest tool buys

[OldCarGuy]

Adding to my vast collection of measuring tools. I picked up a few used specialty micrometers this month. $25.00 each..

Brown & Sharp #215 Disk Micrometer 0-1"




Lufkin #3611 Disk Micrometer 0-1"




Lufkin #1951 Blade Micrometer 0-1"




Blade micrometer is used to reach bottom of  a narrow grove.. Previous owner altered this mic by grounding the spindle to a smaller diameter, and relieving the frame above the anvil.. Still usable and accurate...


A disk micrometer is used to measure groove widths.

[Hickory n Steel]

Nicely done, great score!

Yeah the prices were right.

[Hickory n Steel]

Wow I never knew Lufkin made precision instruments.

[Uncle Buck]

You bet they they did. The quality of Lufkin precision measuring tools was equal to Starrett during their entire run and did not drop off at any point. The price point OCG bought his disk mics at was exceptional. Disk mics can routinely be found on ebay but at higher prices since they are specialized in application.

Lufkin sold off their precision tool division to Pratt Whitney in the 1960's and they continued producing the Lufkin line with the only change being the Pratt Whitney name replacing the Lufkin name for a few discontinuing the entire line.

Today, well preserved examples of Pratt Whitney precision measuring tools like outside mics in original boxes show up on ebay at greatly inflated prices.I have no clue if people pay these stupid high prices for them or not. Three times I lucked out and bought Pratt Whitney outside mics in various sizes in like new condition in like new boxes for very cheap prices.

OCG made a very enviable purchase in my opinion at a great price point of high quality instruments that always feel like an old friend in the hand and usually buttery smooth and dead nuts accurate in use.

[OldCarGuy]

For certain Lufkin always makes top tier precision measuring instruments. Along with all USA made micrometers have that butter-smooth feel spindle. Some foreign brands like Mitutoyo and Flower fall into that category as well..

My first precision tool was a Lufkin 1" micrometer, that I purchased 65 years ago. It rests in my tool box drawer in the original box. Along with my father's lufkin 1" and Brown & Sharp 1" mics. A set of Mitutoyo 1", 2", 3" mics. And a Starrett 1/2" that I snagged over the years...




Set of Mitutoyo 0 to 6" and 6" to 12". All carbide tipped.



My set 0" to 6" Fowler carbide tip micrometers in a mahogany Starrett case no less... 




Then there's this Dasgua Digital 1" to 2" micrometer that a friend gave me when I was machining some parts form his 1910 Locomobile. Must have felt I couldn't hold the tolerance with one of mine...  Digital is fine, but I'm more comfortable using my old-school analog micrometers... 

[TexasT]

i like the Lufkin ones i have. My dad seemed to buy Lufkin tape measures wfen i was a kid so the brand had something for him i guess.

[Uncle Buck]

I really love Lufkin micrometers in particular, but always liked equally well their entire precision measuring line. Brown & Sharpe, pretty much the same, and likewise with Starrett.

Growing up, dad had one micrometer, a well used 1" Lufkin, no case, but he always treated it with the greatest care and taught me how to read that and his cheap  I think Dunlap (General) vernier caliper  by the time I was 10-12 YO.

I prefer vintage measuring equipment for the most part and only 1 digital caliper, no digital mics, numerous vernier reading measuring devices due to lower acquisition cost (only old men and hobbyists want them)

If you ever have an old Lufkin or Brown and Sharpe micrometer or other piece from their precision line that is the old black wrinkle finish that you wish you could refresh/repaint/replicate I have found that Krylon brand Fusion all-in-one paint and primer textured black finish paint. I have used it with great satisfaction on several brands of vintage micrometers to both touch up scars and blemishes, or totally repaint frames and felt it a very close match to those original finishes.

[j.a.f.e.]

I also really like old micrometers. One of my favorites were the Tubular Micrometer Co known as TUMICO.

They had a hollow body and as a result were very light but still very stable and accurate. For a 1" maybe not a big issue but for larger sizes it made a difference. They later were bought by or merged with George Shurr to become Shurr Tumico and after another buy out/merger  became ST Industries.

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They also made a ribbed body micrometer .

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Unfortunately, these are not my pix. I had a couple but traded them since I already have some B&S and Starret. Much as I'd like I can't collect everything that catches my interest.